OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.COM
OCTOBER 22, 2021
SERVING NORTHERN WORCESTER COUNTY
PINES VOTE
FARR WINS, BUT EXACTLY WHAT NO ONE KNOWS ... Page 15 FREE
Council votes to condemn racist posting Comment from Paddack’s page results in censure
GREG WEHNER/OCEAN CITY TODAY
WALL WIPED OUT
One person was transported to the trauma center at TidalHealth Peninsula Regional after crashing into the side of the Little House of Pancakes on the corner of 74th Street and Coastal Highway on Thursday morning. A child who was in the vehicle was treated at the scene and a dog inside the automobile was unharmed. City officials noted that the vehicle struck a bench outside of the Ocean City Fire Station next door before driving into the restaurant. See story on page 19.
City looks to raise seasonal wages Recruiting summer workers for resort govt. could mean a significant boost in pay By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (Oct. 22, 2021) In a vacation resort, where business operations and visitor totals reach full bloom in the summer, seasonal workers are one component that neither the tourism industry nor local government can do
without. That’s why, as worker shortages plague virtually every industry across the country, Ocean City officials are looking for ways to recruit and retain the employees that keep things going during the busiest times. Ocean City Budget Manager Jennie Knapp said this week that she plans to present a proposal to the Ocean City mayor and Council in November that would raise the minimum pay for the city’s lowest tier
employees. The change, which would go into effect Jan. 1 if approved, would mainly raise the wages of the city’s roughly 800 seasonal workers. The proposal comes on the heels of a summer wrought with seasonal staffing struggles, with the wage details in line with comparable positions in other jurisdictions. “From my understanding, this summer was a perfect firestorm,” Knapp said. “We did not get the J1 See SEASONAL Page 4
By Greg Wehner Staff Writer (Oct. 22, 2021) Ocean City Council members voted on Monday night to condemn racial remarks made to Council Member Mark Paddack’s Facebook page in September, and although the measure passed, it was not without dissent. A controversial social media post that was captured in a screen shot came from Paddack’s Facebook account at 12:59 a.m. on Sept. 11. The post referenced a picture from another person’s story, and said, “tell the dude to turn his hat back where the white designed the hat to be worn. Where I come from that is punk. Immature POS.” Paddack was called out about the comments other members on the council, who on Sept. 14, asked him to step down. But he refused. Instead, See COUNCIL Page 3
Kite Loft’s Knerr recovering after motorcycle crash Trip to Shock Trauma a matter of precaution By Greg Ellison Staff Writer (Oct. 22, 2021) Berlin Councilman and Kite Loft owner Jay Knerr is at home recovering after a round-trip to Shock Trauma in Baltimore following a motorcycle accident in Girdletree on Monday. See KNERR Page 4